Are you considering moving to Rochdale? Here at Pro Removals Rochdale, we’d enthusiastically encourage it! We love our hometown, which we’ve been serving faithfully with removals services for years now. Read on for our insider guide to the area. We hope you’ll see why it has such a special place in our hearts.
Rochdale is a town that can be found at the foothills of the South Pennines in Greater Manchester. Nearby cities include Oldham and Manchester itself. Its recorded history goes back to the year 1086 when it was recorded as “Redecham Manor.” It was granted a royal charter in the year 1251.
You can’t talk about Rochdale’s history without mentioning the woollen trade. This was the town’s defining industry in the early 18th century, and it only became more significant during the industrial revolution, when Rochdale was a prominent mill town with many wealthy merchants.
Some people still don’t realise that Rochdale was one of the first industrial towns! Because of its proximity to the Rochdale Canal, it became a centre of commerce, and cotton, wool, and coal were transported both in and out of the area.
Another defining characteristic of Rochdale’s history is its status as the hometown of the Cooperative Movement. The Rochdale Principles set out the vision for this movement, and they’re still in use today! Do you buy your groceries from the coop? Before it was called that, it was the Rochdale Pioneers Shop!
Life in Rochdale
Here at Rochdale Removals, we like to think that the spirit of cooperation outlined by the Cooperative Movement remains a feature in our town. To learn more about it, feel free to visit the Rochdale Pioneers Museum. You’re bound to find it fascinating!
While living in Rochdale, you’ll be able to enjoy plenty of arts and cultural activities. For example, you can visit Touchstones, an art and heritage centre that’s known for interesting exhibitions and family events.
In general, Rochdale enjoys a busy calendar of cultural events. If you like festivals, you’ll love life here. And it certainly seems like there’s a bright future on the horizon for our town. A £250 million regeneration programme is underway, and it’s due to deliver new leisure and retail opportunities. Transport infrastructure will also be improved!
If you’ve ever visited Rochdale, you’ll know that the Town Hall is an impressive Victorian-listed building. A comprehensive restoration is also beginning on this building! All eyes are on Rochdale right now, and that’s great news for its residents!
When you live in Rochdale, you’ll be able to take advantage of the eight Green Flag parks that the area boasts. You can even participate in watersports at Hollington Lake! There are walking routes to choose from all over the borough too.
In Rochdale, you can visit different cafes, bars, and restaurants. If you’re looking for even more nightlife, you can head to Manchester in as few as 15 minutes! You’re also close to Manchester International Airport, which opens up transport links all over the world. Rochdale really offers it all!
Housing, Neighbourhood and Markets in Rochdale
At the moment, popular residential areas are slightly outside of the town centre. This could all change when the town centre regeneration programme is completed, though. Villages like Littleborough are currently very popular. Although it’s not inside the town, it’s still part of the Rochdale borough.
Another desirable suburb is Bamford. This is a very affluent area with large properties. A broader range of housing options is available in Norden, at the northwest of Rochdale. Families like this area because it has good schools.
You might consider exploring the neighbourhoods of Stubley, Wallbank, and Lower Ogden in Rochdale. These are considered some of the nicest and safest local neighbourhoods.
If you’re keen to shop, Rochdale has plenty of options to offer you. There are two shopping centres: Rochdale Exchange and Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre. Beyond the town centre, you might consider checking out Littleborough which boasts independent shops and a monthly farmers market.
Other markets in the local area include Riverside market, which is home to a variety of traders and is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; Heywood Magic Market, which opens on a Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, or Middleton Street Market, which you can visit on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays too.
Remember, a new retail and leisure quarter is currently in development thanks to the area’s regeneration project. Rochdale will only be getting more exciting and attractive to outsiders in the near future. Maybe that makes now a perfect time to invest in property here?
Things to keep in mind when moving to Rochdale
As you can probably see, there are lots to do in Rochdale! You can easily pass the time here engaged in a range of interesting activities. However, if you do need to leave the town, you can do so using the excellent transport links that this area boasts.
Travelling by car? Take the M62 motorway to the south. Manchester airport is only a 35-minute drive away! If you’re commuting to Manchester, you might choose to ride the train there. In and around Rochdale, you can take advantage of frequent tram and bus services. Buses also run regularly to surrounding areas.
When you live in Rochdale, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself at the Rochdale Interchange. This connects bus passengers to the Metrolink, and it’s a safe place to catch buses or taxis. You can even leave your bike there! This facility makes it very easy for users to transfer between services, and Rochdale Railway Station is only half a mile away!
You might feel tempted to head into Manchester at the weekend when the time comes to enjoy some nightlife. However, we recommend giving Rochdale a chance! Unpretentious local pubs have lots of character — and they’re lots of fun.
Looking for work? The biggest employers in the Rochdale area are the manufacturing industry and the health sector. In recent years, growth industries have been financial and creative services as well as the digital sector.
Companies that offer significant employment in Rochdale include Robert McBride Plc, JW Lees & Co, and the UK Car Group. Over the years, we’ve also welcomed other British and European firms to Rochdale, including Takeuchi and CR Lawrence.
FAQs:
How many hospitals are in Rochdale?
Rochdale Infirmary is located near the town centre, and although it is a relatively small hospital, it offers a wide range of services. Here, you can find a 24/7 Urgent Care Centre (UCC) for emergencies as well as a short stay inpatient Clinical Assessment Unit. Day surgery, X-ray and blood testing, and antenatal services are available at this facility.
Nearest schools in Rochdale?
If you’re looking for high-quality educational facilities, you’ll be happy to hear that 12 of Rochdale’s 58 primary schools enjoy Outstanding OFSTED status. 33 of them have achieved a Good rating. Hollingworth Academy is rated as Outstanding. The independent schools in the area are Beech House School and Rochdale Girls School, which now accepts boys too.
What is property pricing in Rochdale?
Last year, properties in Rochdale had an overall average price of £189,187. Terraced properties sold for an average price of £124,231. Semi-detached properties were more expensive, selling for an average of £168,311. Detached properties are the most expensive; they fetched an average of £307,022. Rochdale house prices over the last year were up 16% when compared to the previous year.
Iconic places and parks in Rochdale?
There are plenty public parks to enjoy in Rochdale! The town has 15 in total, with six of them boasting Green Flag Award status. This means they have exceeded national standards. If you want to take the kids to play, try Falinge Park which has an excellent children’s play area. Other Rochdale attractions include an 18-lane bowling alley, a soft play centre, and a high-quality climbing wall. In terms of historical attractions, Rochdale Town Hall is a Victorian listed building that dates back to 1871.